https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260207/new-ai-bill-on-track-to-shape-nigerias-digital-economy-e-governance-future-1083195943.html
New AI Bill on Track to Shape Nigeria's Digital Economy, E-Governance Future
New AI Bill on Track to Shape Nigeria's Digital Economy, E-Governance Future
Sputnik Africa
Nigeria is on the verge of adopting one of Africa's most comprehensive artificial intelligence governance laws, a bill granting a regulator expansive authority... 07.02.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-02-07T10:30+0100
2026-02-07T10:30+0100
2026-02-07T10:30+0100
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New AI Bill on Track to Shape Nigeria's Digital Economy, E-Governance Future
Sputnik Africa
Nigeria is on the verge of adopting one of Africa's most comprehensive artificial intelligence governance laws, a bill granting a regulator expansive authority to suspend unsafe systems, license high-risk applications, and enforce new ethical mandates for transparency and accountability across the digital economy.
In a strategic move to proactively regulate AI amid rapid adoption, Nigeria is advancing legislation to establish a comprehensive national framework—positioning it ahead of African peers that have strategies but lack full legal backing. As AI adoption surges in sectors such as finance and public services, the bill adopts a risk-based model similar to those in advanced economies to oversee operations ranging from global tech giants to local startups. A key innovation is the creation of supervised testing environments, intended to foster development while containing potential harm, thereby setting a benchmark for other African nations yet to enact binding AI laws.In an interview with African Currents, Professor Abejide Ade-Ibijola, one of Africa's leading academics in Artificial Intelligence at the Johannesburg Business School, contended that Nigeria must develop its AI ecosystem through balanced regulations to encourage innovation and ensure data sovereignty, build a unique system reflecting its linguistic and cultural diversity, and strategically pursue technology transfer and partnerships—rather than geopolitical alignment—to serve its national development goals.Want to hear more from our guest? Catch the full conversation on the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.Find our episodes not just on the website, but also on Telegram.► You can also stream our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
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New AI Bill on Track to Shape Nigeria's Digital Economy, E-Governance Future
Nigeria is on the verge of adopting one of Africa's most comprehensive artificial intelligence governance laws, a bill granting a regulator expansive authority to suspend unsafe systems, license high-risk applications, and enforce new ethical mandates for transparency and accountability across the digital economy.
In a strategic move to proactively regulate AI amid rapid adoption, Nigeria is advancing legislation to establish a comprehensive national framework—positioning it ahead of African peers that have strategies but lack full legal backing. As AI adoption surges in sectors such as finance and public services, the bill adopts a risk-based model similar to those in advanced economies to oversee operations ranging from global tech giants to local startups. A key innovation is the creation of supervised testing environments, intended to foster development while containing potential harm, thereby setting a benchmark for other African nations yet to enact binding AI laws.
In an interview with African Currents, Professor Abejide Ade-Ibijola, one of Africa's leading academics in Artificial Intelligence at the Johannesburg Business School, contended that Nigeria must develop its AI ecosystem through balanced regulations to encourage innovation and ensure data sovereignty, build a unique system reflecting its linguistic and cultural diversity, and strategically pursue technology transfer and partnerships—rather than geopolitical alignment—to serve its national development goals.
"The greatest threat right now is Nigeria not having its own AI policy [...]. If Nigeria gets this bill right, many African countries would adapt this view for their context [...]. I would think that Nigeria has a real opportunity in the age of AI to be its own person, its own country, its own nation. The opportunity is there. It starts from our bargaining, though [...] Our strength is numbers. We have huge numbers. We have a young population. We need to revamp our educational sector, make sure we get AI into those classrooms as early as possible. We need to train the smartest AI engineers, and we need to give them incentives to stay back in Nigeria to solve [...]. The moment you train Nigerian young people to be very fast, to understand AI, to train models, to use APIs, to create platforms, to solve problems, then you've won," Professor Ade-Ibijola noted.
Want to hear more from our guest? Catch the full conversation on the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
Find our episodes not just on the website, but also on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
